Files and Filing

[AES]

Robbo 3 of this parish asked me to do a piece on files and filing. Obviously it's a hand tool, so it could go in this section, but being primarily a tool for metal bashers, I've put it (in 4 parts - it's rather long!) in the General Metalworking Section.

Mods, please move if that's wrong.

I hope it helps someone anyway.

AES

 

[ED65]

You're speaking my language, I'm a big fan of files and not just for metalwork.

 

[bridger]

Files are vastly underrated as woodworking tools.

 

[ED65]

Files are vastly underrated as woodworking tools.

Yup. Rasps get all the love but filing can be considered part of the one continuum, taking wood from coarsely shaped to fully smoothed or very nearly so. Last time I resurfaced the back of a coffin smoother I did 99% of the work on the rear corners with files and IIRC a grand total of about 30 seconds of sanding was needed to complete the job.